For many people, the idea of hurting yourself might seem like a strange one, but for some, it becomes a way of coping with the difficulties of life. Self harm happens when someone intentionally causes an injury to themselves, in one of a variety of ways, and those who self harm report a huge feeling of relief when they inflict this pain.

Self harm can involve any of these behaviours: cutting, scratching, biting, hitting, hair-pulling, burning, or picking at existing wounds. Anyone can self harm, though many who do have suffered either physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Like an eating disorder, self harming can be the sufferers way of making their emotional pain more visible, a way of expressing what's inside in a physical way. This doesn't mean that people who self harm are just attention seekers - it means they are in genuine pain, and have just found a bad way to help them cope.

If you are worried that someone you care about is self harming, you might look out for the following signs:

• They wear long sleeves and trousers, even in the warmest of weather. Sleeves might be pulled right down over the hands, in an attempt to hide cuts or scars.
• They might have a lighter in their bag when they don't smoke, or a razor or something else sharp.
• They might begin to develop a lot of cuts and bruises that they're unable to explain.
• They might begin to develop problems in their relationships, and have problems concentrating in class.

If you, or someone you care about, is suffering with the burden of self harm, then try to seek help right away. Talk to someone at your DIT Health Centre, or make an appointment with your counsellor or chaplain. Self harm can feel like the only way to vent all the anguish and pain that is inside, but it is possible to find other ways to cope. You don't deserve to hurt.

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